Culture

The best lesbian and sapphic movies

5 min read · Updated November 2026

The best lesbian movies include Carol (2015), Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019), The Handmaiden (2016), Bound (1996), But I'm a Cheerleader (1999), Saving Face (2004) and Bottoms (2023). Below are 26 sapphic films grouped by mood, from slow burn romance to camp comedy and twisty thrillers, each with a spoiler free pitch.

Sapphic cinema has come a long way from the days when queer women on screen were doomed by the final reel. Some of these are joyful, some are tragic, and a few are just gloriously strange. Grab snacks.

Romance

Carol

Todd Haynes, 2015

In 1950s New York, a young shop clerk and an elegant older woman are drawn together. Every glance is doing a lot of work.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire

Celine Sciamma, 2019

On a remote island in 18th century France, a painter is hired to secretly paint a reluctant bride. Gorgeous, aching, perfect.

Desert Hearts

Donna Deitch, 1985

A professor in Reno for a quick divorce meets a free spirited younger woman. A landmark for treating lesbian love with warmth.

Saving Face

Alice Wu, 2004

A Chinese American surgeon in New York juggles a new girlfriend and her suddenly pregnant mother. Sweet and very funny.

Imagine Me and You

Ol Parker, 2005

On her wedding day, a bride locks eyes with the florist. A charming British rom-com.

Rafiki

Wanuri Kahiu, 2018

Two young women in Nairobi fall in love despite their families' political rivalry. Vibrant, brave and full of color.

Drama

Pariah

Dee Rees, 2011

A Brooklyn teenager explores her identity as a Black lesbian while her family pulls in different directions. Tender and powerful.

Disobedience

Sebastian Lelio, 2017

A woman returns to the Orthodox Jewish community in London she left behind, and to the woman she once loved.

Ammonite

Francis Lee, 2020

A fossil hunter on the English coast forms an unexpected bond with a young woman left in her care. Quiet and windswept.

High Art

Lisa Cholodenko, 1998

A magazine assistant gets pulled into the orbit of a reclusive photographer. A moody indie classic.

The Miseducation of Cameron Post

Desiree Akhavan, 2018

A teen caught with another girl is sent to a conversion camp in the 1990s, and finds unlikely friends there.

Comedy

But I'm a Cheerleader

Jamie Babbit, 1999

A cheerleader is sent to a pastel conversion camp and falls for a fellow camper. Camp in every sense, and a cult favorite.

Kissing Jessica Stein

Charles Herman-Wurmfeld, 2001

A neurotic New York journalist answers a personal ad from a woman, just to see. A smart early 2000s rom-com.

The Half of It

Alice Wu, 2020

A shy student writes love letters for a jock, to the girl she secretly likes too. A Cyrano story with a queer twist.

Happiest Season

Clea DuVall, 2020

A woman plans to propose at her girlfriend's family Christmas, then learns her girlfriend is not out to them.

Bottoms

Emma Seligman, 2023

Two unpopular queer girls start a high school fight club to get close to cheerleaders. Absurd, violent and hilarious.

The Favourite

Yorgos Lanthimos, 2018

Two cousins compete for the attention of Queen Anne in a wickedly funny period piece.

Thriller and genre

Bound

The Wachowskis, 1996

An ex-con and a mobster's girlfriend plan to steal a fortune in mob money. Sexy, stylish noir that let its lesbians win.

The Handmaiden

Park Chan-wook, 2016

In 1930s Korea, a con man hires a pickpocket to become a maid to a Japanese heiress. Twists on twists. For adults.

Mulholland Drive

David Lynch, 2001

An aspiring actress in Los Angeles helps a woman with amnesia. Dreamlike, baffling, and endlessly debated.

Love Lies Bleeding

Rose Glass, 2024

A reclusive gym manager falls for an ambitious bodybuilder in 1980s New Mexico. Pulpy, bloody and bold.

Thelma

Joachim Trier, 2017

A sheltered Norwegian student falls for a classmate, and strange things start to happen. Supernatural and haunting.

Classics

Go Fish

Rose Troche, 1994

A group of lesbian friends in Chicago try to set up their bookish pal. Low budget, black and white, and full of real talk.

The Watermelon Woman

Cheryl Dunye, 1996

A young Black lesbian filmmaker researches a forgotten actress from 1930s films. Often called the first feature by a Black lesbian director.

Show Me Love

Lukas Moodysson, 1998

Two teenage girls in a small Swedish town who seem to have nothing in common. A beloved, awkward, true to life gem.

Fire

Deepa Mehta, 1996

Two sisters-in-law in a Delhi household, both in unhappy marriages, find comfort in each other. Groundbreaking and controversial in its time.

A note on sad endings

For decades, queer women in movies were far more likely to die, go back to men, or end up alone by the credits. Fans call this pattern "bury your gays." It is part of why a film like Desert Hearts felt so radical in 1985: it simply let two women be happy.

Newer films are much kinder, and the romance and comedy picks above are a safe bet if you want joy. Older classics still deserve a watch, though. Just go in knowing the era they came from, and keep a lighter film ready for afterward.

Where to watch

Streaming catalogs change constantly and differ by country, so the easiest move is to search the title on a streaming guide site before movie night. Many of these films are also available to rent digitally, and your local library may lend DVDs or offer free streaming through its own app.

Pick a movie for the mood

Date night: Saving Face, Imagine Me and You or Happiest Season.
Big feelings: Carol or Portrait of a Lady on Fire.
Group watch: But I'm a Cheerleader or Bottoms.
Something twisty: Bound or The Handmaiden.

Movie night makes a great date, and you can find more on our first date ideas list. For stories you can curl up with, see the best sapphic books. And if you have ever wondered whether you are a Carol or a Therese, the lesbian types test has thoughts.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best lesbian movie of all time?

There is no single answer, but Carol (2015) and Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) top many critics' and fans' lists. Both are slow burn period romances with extraordinary performances. For something lighter, But I'm a Cheerleader and Saving Face are beloved favorites, and Bound remains a fan classic for its style and its happy ending.

Are there lesbian movies with happy endings?

Yes. Saving Face, Imagine Me and You, Desert Hearts, Happiest Season, But I'm a Cheerleader and Bound all give their couples a hopeful or happy ending. Older films often punished queer women, but that changed over time. If you want to avoid heartbreak, start with the romance and comedy sections of this list.

What is a good lesbian movie for a first date?

Pick something fun and not too heavy. Saving Face, Imagine Me and You and Kissing Jessica Stein are charming and easy to talk about afterward. Bottoms works if you both like chaotic humor. Save intense films like The Handmaiden or Portrait of a Lady on Fire for when you know each other a bit better.

What are some classic lesbian films?

Desert Hearts (1985) was a milestone for its warm, unpunished romance. Go Fish (1994) and The Watermelon Woman (1996) are touchstones of 1990s queer independent cinema, and Bound (1996) brought lesbian leads to a stylish crime thriller. Fire (1996) and Show Me Love (1998) are celebrated international classics worth seeking out.

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